Malaysia arrests 16 terror suspects across five states

Malaysian police have arrested 16 terror suspects, including 14 allegedly involved in a cell headed by the suspected mastermind behind the bomb blast at the Movida nightspot in Puchong, Selangor, in June. All are Malaysians, except one who is from a North African country.

Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the suspects are aged between 20 and 38, and were arrested following counter-terrorism operations in Selangor, Kelantan, Perak, Kedah, Penang and Sabah between Sep 21 and Oct 6.

In a statement, he said businessmen, a school counsellor, a student and a bank employee were among those detained.

Police suspect 14 of those arrested are involved in the Islamic State-linked "Black Crow" cell, headed by a Malaysian in Syria, Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi. Muhammad Wanndy is suspected to be the mastermind behind a blast at the Movida nightspot in Puchong in June, which injured eight people.

Khalid added that the 20-year-old student from an institute of higher learning was arrested in Istanbul, Turkey, on Sep 8 as he was planning to enter Syria to join terrorist groups in the country.

The foreigner, police believe, had come to Malaysia several times to falsify documents for the Jahbat Al Nusra group in Syria.